Russian MPs back adoption ban for foreign same-sex couples

Russian politicians have voted to restrict adoptions from countries that allow same-sex marriage.

The proposal was passed unanimously in the Duma lower house of parliament, and could ban even single people in more than a dozen countries from adopting Russian orphans.

President Vladimir Putin has already vowed to sign the bill into law when it is approved by the upper house.

The new restrictions follow last year's approval of an adoption ban on American citizens, despite massive protests and petitions by thousands of people against the legislation.

The amendments to Russia's family code say those to be banned from adoption include "persons in a marriage union between people of the same sex registered in a state where such a union is allowed, as well as citizens of such states that are not married".

"Adoption of this bill de-facto eliminates the chance for foreign persons of so-called non-traditional sexual orientation to adopt Russian children," one of the bill's authors, Yelena Mizulina, said in televised remarks ahead of the vote.

The wording implies that couples in a heterosexual marriage would still be allowed to adopt Russian children but single people would be banned, regardless of their sexual orientation.

"A child should have a mother and a father, a child in a family has an idea of what the world is about," Duma deputy speaker Sergei Zheleznyak said.

"If a child ends up with a homosexual couple it could of course cause severe damage and the child ends up with a distorted perception of reality."

Same-sex marriages are currently legal in 14 countries, including Canada, Belgium, Spain, Norway and Sweden, with France being the latest addition to the list.

Jail for homosexual 'propaganda'

In recent months Russia has unleashed a campaign defending "traditional values", and last week the Duma passed a controversial bill that imposes jail terms on people seen as promoting homosexual "propaganda".

A poll by independent Levada Centre in April showed that 39 per cent of Russians believe that gays and lesbians should have the same rights as heterosexuals, while 47 per cent disagreed.

Forty-five per cent said they believe people become homosexual "because of seduction or of their own licentiousness".

Critics of the "gay propaganda" bill have said that it is likely to stigmatise Russia's homosexual community even further and give a rise to homophobia and hate crimes.

The bill, which has not yet been signed into law by Mr Putin, would also make it an offence to say that gay relationships are equal to heterosexual ones.